The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-11-24

Mans VOICE. crying Irantlcauy
Marguerite Marguerite 1 z
Up and down the narrow corridors,
where the smoke was gathering 80
dense and black that death by suffo-
cation was the first peril, Wyndham
dashed like a mailman.
Where is Marguerite Valleau 7 "
he cried frantically.
Never heard OF her." replied one
OF the machinists. "Save yourself,
monsieur. There Is no time to hunt
for missing ones"
One Of the chorus girls dashed by
wrapped IN a great coax.
Marguerite Vatican is In the prop
erty-room, " / he said.
And Wyndham dashed forward.
He did not know where the property
room was there vas no one to tell
him. The corridors were almost de-
serted by the flying troupe ; but above
the flames sWelled and leaped, belch-
ing forth sparks and smoke that
threatened to choke him. From be-
hind the fre-wall door he heard the
roar Of the terrified audience, like so
many wild beasts trying to burst
their cage.
Marguerite | Marguerite J" he cried.
But there came no reply.
To the right and left he ran, in one
door and out another, till at last he
came upon a limp, white figure lying
on the floor Of the deserted room.
Marguerite - thank God l" he
cried feryently.
And catching her in his arms he
turned to retrace his steps.
His voice and touch seemed to
arouse her. She opened her eyes and
smiled-smiled with death staring her
in the face, for. Wyndham's passage
was barred by fame. He knew not
which way to turn. -
ut is thou che said softly, In
French. "I saw thee from the very
first
Marguerite /" he whispered, hold
ing her close in his arms. "There is
no place for us to 60. We cannot
escape. Are you afraid to die with
me, dearest z"
mo-" she answered, with a fearless
smile /; but her eyes met his hopeless
look with a fresh inspiration. "Let
me go, monsieur" she said quickly.
nCome with me. I know a way.
Take my hand-so I"
He obeyed her, and hand-in-hand
they fled together down througha trap
under the stage, and into a long, mar.
row passage, which terminated in an
exit into the Rue Marivaux.
"This is for the administration"
she explained. 81 was on my way
here from the property-roon when I
tainted. IL you had not come, mon
sieur, I should have been left behind"
He pressed her hand warmly as
they hurried on.
"Open the door /" she said.
And Wyndham sprang forward to
obey her, but fell back with q groan.
cit is locked |" he cried, Wrenching
the knob futilely. "There is no keyl'
Marguerite's little, hands were
quickly dashed against the panels Of
the door. Wyndham vainly strove to
hammer them in with his boots or
attract attention from without. But
the awful din around the burning
building prevented them from being
heard.
The fremen had arrived, and their
shouts mingled with the shrieks of the
crowd assembled. The struggling
mass OF people swarming out of the
opera-house drowned all minor noises.
We are trapped" Wyndham said
in agony. eve cannot get back now,
my poor little Marguerite I"
With a low sob, her head sank or
his shoulder.
aAs God wills it ~ she whispered.
ST am not afraid here"
Wyndham's arms were around her /;
his face close to hers.
"Do you love me 7" he asked sol
EMMY.
!" Truly, monsieur" she replied, her
arms clinging close about his neck.
"Then why did you go away" he
asked. " Why did you not let me
know where TO find your"
81 was poor she said. T had to
earn my living. And how could a
young girl have staid on there without
without You know could not"
But I meant TO ask you to marry
me-" he said quickly.
"YGb,1 she answered "but Mon
sieur Mangam, your uncle, said that
could not be---that it was not right for
you to marry me, because you would
lose everything by that
Wyndham shut his teeth hard.
0Te!l me. MarQuerite.D he said.